Robinson R22 accident near Concord, California, June 14, 1982
On June 14, 1982 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N90165, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1982 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N90165 · no longer on the register · serial 0014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CAME TO A 3 FT HOVER THEN INITIATED A DESCENT BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 6 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND, HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO COMPLETE THE LANDING, AND AT THAT POINT, A GUST OF WIND ROCKED THE HELICOPTER REARWARD. THE REAR PART OF THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT THAT TIME, HE HEARD AND FELT A SLIGHT THUMP AND EVERYTHING STARTED SPINNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER WAS STOPPED ON THE GROUND AND SHUTDOWN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A TAIL ROTOR BLADE, THE LOWER HALF OF THE VERTICAL FIN AND THE TAIL ROTOR SKID HAD BROKEN. THE PREVAILING WIND WAS FROM 280 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,018 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Navajo Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 10:00 am
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N90165 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.